Locating method in multi-connectivity network, terminal device and location management function entity

ABSTRACT

A terminal device, a location management function entity and a method for positioning a terminal device in a multi-connectivity network are provided. The terminal device includes a processor and a memory connected to the processor and storing instructions. The processor, when executing the instructions, is configured to generate a locating message of the terminal device using a first radio access technology (RAT). The processor is further configured to cause the terminal device to send the locating message of the terminal device to the location management function entity through signaling over an air interface using a second RAT.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/882,643 filed on May 25, 2020, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2018/072234, filed on Jan. 11, 2018,the entire contents of the above-identified applications are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Implementations of this application relate to the communications field,and more specifically, to a locating method in a multi-connectivitynetwork, a terminal device, and a location management function entity.

Locating is a basic requirement of a communications system. In a 5Garchitecture, a new location management function (LMF) entity isintroduced, and a locating message of a terminal is transmitted as anon-access stratum (NAS) payload message included in a radio resourcecontrol (RRC) message. For a multi-connectivity network, an RRCconnection exists on a node but does not necessarily exist on anothernode. In the related art, the terminal usually uses a radio accesstechnology (RAT) used by the node with the RRC connection to locate theterminal and performs transmission and interaction of the locatingmessage with the LMF entity. Consequently, a locating operation isinflexible.

SUMMARY

In view of this, implementations of this application provide a locatingmethod in a multi-connectivity network, a terminal device, and alocation management function entity.

According to a first aspect, a locating method in a multi-connectivitynetwork is provided including determining the position of a terminaldevice using a first radio access technology RAT, and sending, by theterminal device, a locating message of the terminal device to a locationmanagement function entity through signaling over an air interface usinga second RAT.

According to a second aspect, a locating method in a multi-connectivitynetwork is provided including receiving, by a location managementfunction entity, a locating message of a terminal device sent by theterminal device through signaling over an air interface using a secondradio access technology RAT, and locating, by the location managementfunction entity, the terminal device according to the locating messageof the terminal device.

According to a third aspect, a terminal device is provided, configuredto perform the method according to the first aspect or any suitableimplementation of the first aspect. Specifically, the terminal deviceincludes units configured to perform the method according to the firstaspect or any suitable implementation of the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect, a location management function entity isprovided, configured to perform the method according to the secondaspect or any suitable implementation of the second aspect.Specifically, the location management function entity includes unitsconfigured to perform the method according to the second aspect or anysuitable implementation of the second aspect.

According to a fifth aspect, a terminal device is provided including amemory, a processor, an input interface, and an output interface. Thememory, the processor, the input interface, and the output interface areconnected through a bus system. The memory is configured to storecomputer-readable instructions, and the processor is configured toexecute the instructions stored in the memory, to perform the methodaccording to the first aspect or any suitable implementation of thefirst aspect.

According to a sixth aspect, a location management function entity isprovided including a memory, a processor, an input interface, and anoutput interface. The memory, the processor, the input interface, andthe output interface are connected through a bus system. The memory isconfigured to store computer-readable instructions, and the processor isconfigured to execute the instructions stored in the memory, to performthe method according to the second aspect or any suitable implementationof the second aspect.

According to a seventh aspect, a computer storage medium is provided,configured to store a computer software program includingcomputer-readable instructions, when executed by a processor, performthe method in the foregoing first aspect or any suitable implementationof the first aspect, or the method in the foregoing second aspect or anysuitable implementation of the second aspect, and the computer storagemedium includes a designed program used to perform the foregoingaspects.

According to an eighth aspect, a computer program product includingcomputer-readable instructions is provided, and when the computerprogram product is run on a computer, the computer is enabled to performthe method in the foregoing first aspect, any suitable implementation ofthe first aspect, the method in the foregoing second aspect, or anysuitable implementation of the second aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario according to animplementation of this application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a protocol stack in a 5Garchitecture according to an implementation of this application.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a locating method in amulti-connectivity network according to an implementation of thisapplication.

FIG. 4 is another schematic block diagram of a locating method in amulti-connectivity network according to an implementation of thisapplication.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device according to animplementation of this application.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a location management functionentity according to an implementation of this application.

FIG. 7 is another schematic block diagram of a terminal device accordingto an implementation of this application.

FIG. 8 is another schematic block diagram of a location managementfunction entity according to an implementation of this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions in the implementations of this application aredescribed clearly with reference to the accompanying drawings in theimplementations of this application below.

It is understood that the technical solutions of the implementations ofthis application may be applied to various communications systems, suchas a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), a Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access(WCDMA), a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a Long-Term Evolution(LTE) system, an LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, an LTE TimeDivision Duplex (TDD) system, a Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsSystem (UMTS) system, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access(WiMAX) communications system, a New Radio (NR) system, and a future 5Gcommunications system.

The technical solutions of the implementations of this application maybe applied to various communications systems based on a Non-OrthogonalMultiple Access technology, for example, a Sparse Code Multiple Access(SCMA) system and a Low Density Signature (LDS) system. The SCMA systemand the LDS system may also be referred to as other names in thecommunications field. Further, the technical solutions of theimplementations of this application may be applied to multi-carriertransmission systems in which the Non-Orthogonal Multiple Accesstechnology is used, for example, an Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiplexing (OFDM) system, a Filter Bank Multi-Carrier (FBMC) system, aGeneralized Frequency Division Multiplexing (GFDM) system, and afiltered-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (F-OFDM) system inwhich the Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access technology is used.

A terminal device in the implementations of this application may be userequipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriberstation, a mobile station, a mobile console, a remote station, a remoteterminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wirelesscommunications device, a user agent, or a user apparatus. The accessterminal may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session InitiationProtocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a handheld device having a wirelesscommunication function, a computing device, another processing deviceconnected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device,a terminal device in a future 5G network, a terminal device in a futureevolved public land mobile network (PLMN) or the like. This does notlimit the implementations of this application.

A network device in the implementations of this application may be adevice configured to communicate with the terminal device. The networkdevice may be a base transceiver station (BTS) in GSM or CDMA, a NodeB(NB) in a WCDMA system, an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTEsystem, or a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN)scenario. The network device may also be a relay station, an accesspoint, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a network device in afuture 5G network, a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, orthe like. This does not limit the implementations of this application.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario according tothis application, and a primary node 110 and at least one secondary node120 are included in surrounding nodes of a terminal device 130. The atleast one secondary node 120 is separately connected to the primary node110, to form a multi-connectivity, and the primary node 110 isseparately connected to the terminal device 130 to provide services forthe terminal device 130. The primary node 110 may be an LTE network, andthe secondary node 120 may be an NR network. Alternatively, the primarynode 110 may be an NR network, and the secondary node 120 may be an LTEnetwork. Alternatively, both the primary node 110 and the secondary node120 are NR networks. Application scenarios of the technical solutionsare not limited in this application. The terminal device 130 mayestablish a connection with the secondary node 120 at the same timethrough the primary node 110. A connection established by the terminaldevice 130 with the primary node 110 is a primary connection, and aconnection established by the terminal device 130 with the secondarynode 120 is a secondary connection. Control signaling of the terminaldevice 130 may be transmitted through the primary connection, and dataof the terminal device may be transmitted through the primary connectionand the secondary connection at the same time or may be transmittedmerely through the secondary connection. The primary node 110 of thisimplementation of this application may select a secondary node 120meeting a preset condition to transmit the data of the terminal device130, so as to further reduce a load of the primary node 110. Forexample, the preset condition may be that the quality of a link betweenthe secondary node 120 and the terminal device 130 meets a datatransmission condition.

In the implementations of this application, the secondary node 120 maybe flexibly deployed according to a service requirement and a userdensity. A function of the secondary node 120 is to assist the primarynode 110 in sharing data. Deployment of the secondary node 120 may bediscontinuous, and there may be a large overlapping area betweenneighboring secondary cells. This does not limit the implementations ofthis application.

In the implementations of this application, the primary node may be, forexample, a macrocell, and the secondary node may be, for example, amicrocell, a picocell or a femtocell. However, the implementations ofthis application are not limited by these examples.

More specifically, the primary node may be an LTE node, and thesecondary node is an NR node; or the primary node and the secondary nodemay both be NR nodes. It is understood that the implementations of thisapplication are not limited thereto, the primary node may be further aGSM network device, a CDMA network device, or the like, and thesecondary node may also be a GSM network device, a CDMA network device,or the like. This does not limit the implementations of thisapplication.

In a communications system, a core network node may be further included.The core network node may be a 5G core network node, for example, anaccess and mobility management function (AMF), and for another example,a session management function (SMF). The core network node may be anevolved packet core (EPC) of an LTE network, for example, a sessionmanagement function+core packet gateway (SMF+PGW-C).

An LTE system supports different locating mechanisms, including a RATrelated locating mechanism and a RAT unrelated locating mechanism. TheRAT related locating mechanism includes a triangulation mechanism suchas uplink time difference of arrival (TDoA) locating, downlink TDoAlocating, and relatively simple cell identifier (ID) locating. The RATunrelated locating mechanism includes a global navigation satellitesystem (GNSS). A lightweight presentation protocol (LPP) or an LPPaprotocol is the main protocol configured to support the locatingmechanisms. An LPP/LPPa message is transmitted from a terminal to anetwork side in a NAS manner, and the network side may be, for example,a gateway mobile location center (GMLC). The LPP/LPPa message is usuallya locating message of the terminal device.

In a 5G system, an LMF entity is introduced, and the LMF is configuredto implement a locating operation on the terminal device.

For ease of understanding, a protocol stack in a 5G architecture issimply described first with reference to FIG. 2. A protocol layerbetween UE and a radio access network (RAN) includes a physical (PHY)layer, a media access control (MAC) layer, a radio link control (RLC)layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer and an RRC layer.A protocol layer between the UE and an AMF includes a NAS layer, and aprotocol layer between the UE and an LMF includes an LPP layer. An LPPmessage may be transmitted as a NAS payload message included in an RRCmessage over an air interface.

Because in a dual-connectivity network, an RRC connection exists on anode but does not necessarily exist on another node. The terminalusually uses a RAT used by the node with the RRC connection to locatethe terminal and performs transmission and interaction of the locatingmessage with the LMF entity. Consequently, a locating operation isinflexible. That is, a RAT for locating is bundled together with a RATfor transmitting a locating message, while solutions of theimplementations of this application may decouple the RAT for locatingfrom the RAT for transmitting the locating message, to implement aflexible locating operation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a locating method 200 in amulti-connectivity network according to an implementation of thisapplication. As shown in FIG. 3, the locating method 200 includes thefollowing steps:

S210: A terminal device locates through a first radio access technologyRAT.

S220: The terminal device sends a locating message of the terminaldevice to a location management function entity through a signalingconnection terminated in a second RAT.

Specifically, the terminal device may separately interact with a nodeusing the first RAT and a node using the second RAT. It may beconsidered that locating parameters of cells used by the terminal deviceare locating parameters of some cells served by the node using the firstRAT. The terminal device may send the locating message of the terminaldevice to the location management function entity over an air interfacethrough the signaling of the second RAT. For example, in adual-connectivity scenario, the terminal device is separately connectedto a primary node and a secondary node, where the primary node and thesecondary node separately use different RATs, and the terminal devicemay locate through the secondary node, and send the locating message ofthe terminal device to the location management function entity through asignaling connection with the primary node.

Therefore, the locating method in the multi-connectivity network of thisimplementation of this application is more conducive to improvement inflexibility of a locating operation by decoupling a RAT for locatingfrom a RAT for sending a locating message.

The locating message of the terminal device includes a locatingparameter of a cell of a node corresponding to the first RAT.

Specifically, if the locating message of the terminal device is relatedto a RAT, the terminal device may send a locating parameter of a cellcorresponding to the RAT for locating to the location managementfunction entity, so that the location management function entity locatesthe terminal device through the locating parameter of the cell. Forexample, in the dual-connectivity scenario, the terminal device isseparately connected to a primary node and a secondary node, where theprimary node and the secondary node separately use different RATs, theprimary node includes a cell, that is, a primary cell, and the secondarynode also includes a cell, that is, a secondary cell. If the terminaldevice locates through a locating parameter of the secondary cell, theterminal device may send the locating parameter of the secondary cell tothe location management function entity through signaling of the primarynode.

In an implementation of this application, the node corresponding to thefirst RAT is a secondary node providing a service for the terminaldevice in the multi-connectivity network.

The multi-connectivity architecture currently discussed mainly includesLTE+NR dual connectivity (EN-DC) and NR+LTE dual connectivity (NE-DC).In the EN-DC, the primary node uses LTE, and the secondary node uses NR.Because an LTE cell is a primary cell with a relatively large coveragearea, and an NR cell is a secondary cell with a relatively smallcoverage area, higher accuracy may be achieved if locating is performedthrough a cell ID of the secondary cell. In the NE-DC, the primary nodeuses NR, and the secondary node uses LTE. Because an NR cell is aprimary cell, and there is a possibility that some terminal devices donot support a locating mechanism in the NR primary cell, locating may becompleted only by using an LTE secondary cell to locate.

In an implementation of this application, the locating message of theterminal device further includes a locating parameter of a cell of anode corresponding to the second RAT.

That is, the terminal device may simultaneously report locatingparameters of cells of a plurality of nodes using different RATs andconnected to the terminal device. For example, the terminal device maysimultaneously send a locating parameter of an NR cell and a locatingparameter of an LTE cell to the location management function entity. Itis understood that each node may serve a plurality of cells, that is,the terminal device may simultaneously send locating parameters of aplurality of cells to the location management function entity, and anetwork device may select a locating parameter of a cell from thelocating parameters, to locate the terminal device. The locationmanagement function entity may perform selection according to a cell IDof each cell, and may also separately carry an identifier of each cellin the locating message of the terminal device, or may mark the primarycell and the secondary cell merely in the locating message, but does notspecifically distinguish a secondary cell from another secondary cell.

In an implementation of this application, the node corresponding to thesecond RAT is a primary node providing a service for the terminal devicein the multi-connectivity network.

In an implementation of this application, the sending, by the terminaldevice, a locating message of the terminal device to a locationmanagement function entity through a signaling connection terminated ina second RAT includes sending, by the terminal device, the locatingmessage of the terminal device to the location management functionentity through a radio resource control RRC layer of the primary node.

In a dual-connectivity network, an RRC connection configured to transmitthe locating message always exists on the primary node, and thereforethe terminal device may send a locating parameter of a cell served bythe secondary node to the location management function entity directlythrough signaling of the primary node. For example, the terminal devicemay send the locating parameter of the secondary cell of the secondarynode to the location management function entity through an RRC layer ofthe primary cell of the primary node.

The locating message is transmitted through the primary node, whichenables the terminal to perform a locating operation through a RAT ofthe secondary node even if there is not an RRC connection with thesecondary node.

In an implementation of this application, the locating message of theterminal device includes at least one of the following parameters:uplink and downlink time differences of arrival TDoA, a globalnavigation satellite system GNSS and a cell identifier ID.

It is understood that the locating message of the terminal device mayfurther include parameters in other locating mechanisms. Theimplementations of this application are not limited thereto.

It is further understood that this specification mostly makesdescription by taking an example in which dual-connectivity is used, andthere is merely one cell in each connection, but the implementations ofthis application are not limited thereto. For example, there is aplurality of cells in each connection, where a primary cell may merelybelong to a primary connection, and a secondary connection may merelyinclude a secondary cell.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a locating method 300 in amulti-connectivity network according to an implementation of thisapplication. As shown in FIG. 4, the locating method 300 includes someor all of the following content:

S310: A location management function entity receives a locating messageof a terminal device sent by the terminal device through a signalingconnection terminated in a second radio access technology RAT.

S320: The location management function entity locates the terminaldevice according to the locating message of the terminal device.

Therefore, the locating method in the multi-connectivity network of thisimplementation of this application is more conducive to improvement inflexibility of a locating operation by decoupling a RAT for locatingfrom a RAT for sending a locating message.

In an implementation of this application, the locating message of theterminal device includes a locating parameter of a cell of a nodecorresponding to the first RAT, and the terminal device is locatedthrough the first RAT.

In an implementation of this application, the node corresponding to thefirst RAT is a secondary node providing a service for the terminaldevice in the multi-connectivity network.

In an implementation of this application, the locating message of theterminal device further includes a locating parameter of a cell of anode corresponding to the second RAT.

In an implementation of this application, the node corresponding to thesecond RAT is a primary node providing a service for the terminal devicein the multi-connectivity network.

In an implementation of this application, the locating message of theterminal device includes a locating parameter of each cell in aplurality of cells, and the method further includes: selecting, by thelocation management function entity, a target cell from the plurality ofcells; and the locating, by the location management function entity, theterminal device according to the locating message of the terminal deviceincludes: locating, by the location management function entity, theterminal device according to a locating parameter of the target cell.

In an implementation of this application, the locating message of theterminal device includes at least one of the following parameters:uplink and downlink time differences of arrival TDoA, a globalnavigation satellite system GNSS, and a cell identifier ID.

In an implementation of this application, the first RAT is Long-TermEvolution (LTE), and the second RAT is New Radio NR; or the first RAT isNew Radio NR, and the second RAT is Long-Term Evolution (LTE).

It is understood that the term “and/or” in this specification is only anassociation relationship for describing the associated objects andrepresents that three relationships may exist, for example, A and/or Bmay represent the following three cases: A exists separately, both A andB exist, and B exists separately. In addition, the character “/” in thisspecification generally indicates an “or” relationship between theassociated objects.

It is understood that the interaction between the location managementfunction entity and the terminal device, related features, functions,and the like that are described for the location management functionentity correspond to related features and functions of the terminaldevice. Moreover, related content has been described in detail in theforegoing method 200. For brevity, details are not described hereinagain.

It is understood that sequence numbers of the foregoing processes do notmean execution sequences in various implementations of this application.The execution sequences of the processes should be determined accordingto functions and internal logic of the processes, and should not beconstrued as any limitation on the implementation processes of theimplementations of this application.

The locating method in the multi-connectivity network, according to theimplementations of this application, is described above in detail. Alocating apparatus in a multi-connectivity network according to theimplementations of this application is described below with reference toFIG. 5 to FIG. 8. Technical features described in the methodimplementations are applicable to the following apparatusimplementations.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device 400 accordingto an implementation of this application. As shown in FIG. 5, theterminal device 400 includes a locating unit 410, configured to locatethrough a first radio access technology RAT and a sending unit 420,configured to send a locating message of the terminal device to alocation management function entity through a signaling connectionterminated in a second RAT.

Therefore, the terminal device of this implementation of thisapplication is more conducive to improvement in the flexibility of alocating operation by decoupling a RAT for locating from a RAT forsending a locating message.

It is understood that the terminal device 400 according to thisimplementation of this application may correspond to the terminal devicein the method implementation of this application, and the foregoing andother operations and/or functions of units in the terminal device 400are respectively used to implement corresponding procedures of theterminal device in the method in FIG. 3. For brevity, details are notdescribed herein again.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a location management functionentity 500, according to an implementation of this application. As shownin FIG. 6, the location management function entity 500 includes areceiving unit 510, configured to receive a locating message of aterminal device sent by the terminal device through a signalingconnection terminated in a second radio access technology RAT; and alocating unit 520, configured to locate the terminal device according tothe locating message of the terminal device.

Therefore, the location management function entity of thisimplementation of this application is more conducive to improvement inthe flexibility of a locating operation by decoupling a RAT for locatingfrom a RAT for sending a locating message.

It is understood that the location management function entity 500according to this implementation of this application may correspond tothe location management function entity in the method implementation ofthis application, and the foregoing and other operations and/orfunctions of units in the location management function entity 500 arerespectively used to implement corresponding procedures of the locationmanagement function entity in the method in FIG. 4. For brevity, detailsare not described herein again.

As shown in FIG. 7, an implementation of this application furtherprovides a terminal device 600. The terminal device 600 may be theterminal device 400 in FIG. 5 and can be configured to perform thefunctions of the terminal device corresponding to the method 200 in FIG.3. The terminal device 600 includes an input interface 610, an outputinterface 620, a processor 630, and a memory 640, and the inputinterface 610, the output interface 620, the processor 630, and thememory 640 may be connected through a bus system. The memory 640 isconfigured to store a program, an instruction, or a code. The processor630 is configured to execute the program, the instruction, or the codein the memory 640, so as to control the input interface 610 to receive asignal, control the output interface 620 to send a signal, and completeoperations in the foregoing method implementation.

Therefore, the terminal device of this implementation of thisapplication is more conducive to improvement in the flexibility of alocating operation by decoupling a RAT for locating from a RAT forsending a locating message.

It is understood that, in this implementation of this application, theprocessor 630 may be a central processing unit (CPU), or the processor630 may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor(DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), or another programmable logicdevice, discrete gate or transistor logical device, or discrete hardwarecomponent, or the like. The general-purpose processor may be amicroprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor orthe like.

The memory 640 may include a read-only memory and a random accessmemory, and provide an instruction and data to the processor 630. A partof the memory 640 may further include a non-volatile random-accessmemory. For example, the memory 640 may further store information abouta device type.

In an implementation process, each piece of content of the foregoingmethods may be implemented by a hardware-integrated logic circuit in theprocessor 630 or by an instruction in a software form. The content ofthe method disclosed with reference to the implementations of thisapplication may be directly performed by a hardware processor or may beperformed by using a combination of hardware in the processor and asoftware module. The software module may be located in a mature storagemedium in the field, such as a random-access memory, a flash memory, aread-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, anelectrically-erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storagemedium is located in the memory 640, and the processor 630 reads theinformation in the memory 640 and completes the content in the foregoingmethods in combination with hardware of the processor. To avoidrepetition, details are not described herein again.

In a specific implementation, the locating unit in the terminal device400 may be implemented by the processor 630 in FIG. 7, and the sendingunit of the terminal device 400 may be implemented by the outputinterface 620 in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 8, an implementation of this application furtherprovides a location management function entity 700. The locationmanagement function entity 700 may be the location management functionentity 500 in FIG. 6 and can be configured to perform the functions ofthe location management function entity corresponding to the method 300in FIG. 4. The location management function entity 700 includes an inputinterface 710, an output interface 720, a processor 730, and a memory740. The input interface 710, the output interface 720, the processor730, and the memory 740 may be connected through a bus system. Thememory 740 is configured to store a program, an instruction, or a code.The processor 730 is configured to execute the program, the instruction,or the code in the memory 740, so as to control the input interface 710to receive a signal, control the output interface 720 to send a signal,and complete operations in the foregoing method implementation.

Therefore, the location management function entity of thisimplementation of this application is more conducive to improvement inthe flexibility of a locating operation by decoupling a RAT for locatingfrom a RAT for sending a locating message.

It is understood that, in this implementation of this application, theprocessor 730 may be a CPU, or the processor 730 may be anothergeneral-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a FPGA, or anotherprogrammable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logical device,or discrete hardware component, or the like. The general-purposeprocessor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be anyconventional processor or the like.

The memory 740 may include a read-only memory and a random accessmemory, and provide an instruction and data to the processor 730. A partof the memory 740 may further include a non-volatile random-accessmemory. For example, the memory 740 may further store information abouta device type.

In an implementation process, each piece of content of the foregoingmethods may be implemented by a hardware-integrated logic circuit in theprocessor 730 or by an instruction in a software form. The content ofthe method disclosed with reference to the implementations of thisapplication may be directly performed by a hardware processor or may beperformed by using a combination of hardware in the processor and asoftware module. The software module may be located in a mature storagemedium in the field, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, aread-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, anelectrically-erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storagemedium is located in the memory 740, and the processor 730 reads theinformation in the memory 740 and completes the content in the foregoingmethods in combination with hardware of the processor. To avoidrepetition, details are not described herein again.

In a specific implementation, the locating unit and the selecting unitin the location management function entity 700 may be implemented by theoutput interface 720 in FIG. 8, and the receiving unit in the locationmanagement function entity 700 may be implemented by the input interface710 in FIG. 8.

It is understood that, in combination with the examples described in theimplementations disclosed in this specification, units and algorithmsteps may be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination ofcomputer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions areperformed by hardware or software depends on particular applications anddesign constraint conditions of the technical solutions. A personskilled in the art may use different methods to implement the describedfunctions for each particular application, but it should not beconsidered that the implementation goes beyond the scope of thisapplication.

It may be clearly understood that for the purpose of convenience andsimplicity, for a detailed working process of the foregoing system,apparatus, and unit, reference may be made to a corresponding process inthe foregoing method implementations, and details are not describedherein again.

In the several implementations provided in this application, it isunderstood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may beimplemented in other manners. For example, the described apparatusimplementation is merely exemplary. For example, the unit division ismerely logical function division and may be other division in actualimplementation. For example, a plurality of units or components may becombined or integrated into another system, or some features may beignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutualcouplings or direct couplings or communication connections may beimplemented through some interfaces. The indirect couplings orcommunication connections between the apparatuses or units may beimplemented in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physicallyseparate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units,may be located in one position, or may be distributed on a plurality ofnetwork units. Some or all of the units may be selected according toactual needs to achieve the objectives of the solutions of theimplementations.

In addition, functional units in the implementations of this applicationmay be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units mayexist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into oneunit.

When the functions are implemented in the form of a software functionalmodule and sold or used as an independent product, the functions may bestored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such anunderstanding, the technical solutions of this application, or part ofthe technical solutions, may be implemented in the form of a softwareproduct. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium andincludes several instructions for instructing a computer device (whichmay be a personal computer, a server, a network device, or the like) toperform all or a part of the steps of the implementations of thisapplication. The foregoing storage medium includes any medium that canstore program codes, such as a USB flash disk, a removable hard disk, aread-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk,or an optical disk.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of thisapplication but are not intended to limit the protection scope of thisapplication. Any variation or replacement readily figured out within thetechnical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within theprotection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope ofthis application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A terminal device, comprising: a processor; and amemory connected to the processor and storing instructions, wherein theprocessor, when executing the instructions, is configured to: generate alocating message of the terminal device using a first radio accesstechnology (RAT), wherein the locating message of the terminal device isconfigured for determining a location of the terminal device, and thelocating message of the terminal device comprises a first locatingparameter of a cell of a first node and a second locating parameter of acell of a second node, wherein the first node corresponds to the firstRAT and the second node corresponds to a second RAT; and cause theterminal device to send the locating message of the terminal device to alocation management function entity through signaling over an airinterface using the second RAT.
 2. The terminal device according toclaim 1, wherein the first node is a secondary node providing a serviceto the terminal device in a multi-connectivity network.
 3. The terminaldevice according to claim 1, wherein the second node is a primary nodeproviding a service to the terminal device in a multi-connectivitynetwork.
 4. The terminal device according to claim 3, wherein to causethe terminal device to send the locating message of the terminal device,the processor is further configured to: cause the terminal device tosend the locating message of the terminal device to the locationmanagement function entity through a radio resource control (RRC) layerof the primary node.
 5. The terminal device according to claim 1,wherein the first locating parameter comprises time difference ofarrival (TDoA) or a cell identifier (ID), and the second locatingparameter comprises time difference of arrival (TDoA) or a cellidentifier (ID).
 6. The terminal device according to claim 1, whereinthe locating message comprises a plurality of locating parameters of aplurality of cells of the first node.
 7. A location management functionentity, comprising: a processor; and a memory connected to the processorand storing instructions, wherein the processor, when executing theinstructions, is configured to: receive a locating message of a terminaldevice sent from the terminal device through signaling over an airinterface using a second radio access technology (RAT), wherein thelocating message of the terminal device comprises a first locatingparameter of a cell of a first node and a second locating parameter of acell of a second node, wherein the first node corresponds to a first RATand the second node corresponds to the second RAT; and locate theterminal device according to the locating message of the terminaldevice.
 8. The location management function entity according to claim 7,wherein the first node is a secondary node providing a service to theterminal device in a multi-connectivity network.
 9. The locationmanagement function entity according to claim 7, wherein the second nodeis a primary node providing a service to the terminal device in amulti-connectivity network.
 10. The location management function entityaccording to claim 7, wherein the locating message of the terminaldevice comprises a plurality of locating parameter of a plurality ofcells of the first node, and the processor is further configured to:select a target cell from the plurality of cells; and locate theterminal device according to the locating parameter of the target cell.11. The locating management entity according to claim 10, wherein eachone of the locating parameters of the cell comprises a respective cellidentifier (ID) or an indicator of a primary cell or a secondary cell,and the processor is further configured to select the target cellaccording to the cell IDs or the indicators.
 12. The locating managemententity according to claim 7, wherein the first locating parametercomprises time difference of arrival (TDoA) or a cell ID, and the secondlocating parameter comprises time difference of arrival (TDoA) or a cellID.
 13. The locating management entity according to claim 7, wherein thefirst RAT is Long-Term Evolution (LTE), and the second RAT is New Radio(NR).
 14. A method for positioning a terminal device in amulti-connectivity network, comprising: receiving, by a locationmanagement function entity, a locating message of the terminal devicesent from the terminal device through signaling over an air interfaceusing a second radio access technology (RAT), wherein the locatingmessage of the terminal device comprises a first locating parameter of acell of a first node and a second locating parameter of a cell of asecond node, wherein the first node corresponds to a first RAT and thesecond node corresponds to the second RAT; and locating, by the locationmanagement function entity, the terminal device according to thelocating message of the terminal device.
 15. The method according toclaim 14, wherein the first node is a secondary node providing a serviceto the terminal device in a multi-connectivity network.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein the second node is a primary nodeproviding a service to the terminal device in a multi-connectivitynetwork.
 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the locatingmessage of the terminal device comprises a plurality of locatingparameter of a plurality of cells of the first node, and the methodfurther comprises: selecting, by the location management functionentity, a target cell from the plurality of cells, wherein locating, bythe location management function entity, the terminal device accordingto the locating message of the terminal device comprises: locating, bythe location management function entity, the terminal device accordingto the locating parameter of the target cell.
 18. The method accordingto claim 17, wherein each one of the locating parameters of the cellcomprises a respective cell identifier (ID) or an indicator of a primarycell or a secondary cell, and the method further comprises: selecting,by the location management function entity, the target cell according tothe cell IDs or the indicators.
 19. The method according to claim 14,wherein the first locating parameter comprises time difference ofarrival (TDoA) or a cell ID, and the second locating parameter comprisestime difference of arrival (TDoA) or a cell ID.
 20. The method accordingto claim 14, wherein the first RAT is Long-Term Evolution (LTE), and thesecond RAT is New Radio (NR).